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ME AN NELLIE 




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MABLE'S LOVE LETTERS TO 

HER ROOKIE ^ ) > 

BY 

FLORENCE ELIZABETH SUMMERS 

II 

WITH 43 ILLUSTRATIONS IN BLACK-AND-WHITE BY 

NATALIE STOKES 




NEW YORK 

FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 



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Copyright, iqi8, iqiq, by 
FsEDEiacK A. Stokes Company 



All Rights Reserved 



CI.A511773 

m -3 1919 



TO THE MABLE'S 

whom several million Bill's left be- 
hind them, waiting — patiently — at 
home. Knitting. Watching for the 
postman. Conserving coals on the 
home fire. Eating meatless meals. 
Trying to be kind to other Bill's in 
khaki for his sake. Struggling to 
comprehend things technical, and — 
understanding a little, as women will, 
what war really means. 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
Me an Nellie Frontispiece 



FACING 
PAQB 



Nellie 3 

"Ive just come from Grover Sturgion's*' . . 6 

"Its pitiful how thin he is" 9 

"Nellie's gone an married GufFy" 12 

"Anybody that looked in the glass much as I 

have would" 14 

"Theyve got GufFy in jail for slackin" . . . i6 

"She fell on my shoulder a cryin" .... 19 

"My cousin, Jed Bangs" 22 

"He drove with his arm on the back of the seat" 25 

"I bet that whiskered man is the hooded Terror" 28 

"The new fello in Pa's office" 30 

"Hes around the house on business a good deal" 33 
"I've gone to practising my voice three hours 

a day" 3" 

"Hes got hair Hke a girls an false teeth" . . 39 

"I got that word out of Grandmas dicshunary" 42 

"Ma dropped the iron board on her foot" . . 45 

"Your mother was in yesterday" 4^ 

"I picked up a paper an saw a add" .... 51 

"Id been washin all morning" 54 

"They told me to go over an stretch" ... 57 

"Ive been knittin me a rainbow sweater" . . 60 

"Im doin all the cookin" ....... 63 



Vll 



VUl 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



FACING 
PAG£ 



"He stuck his tongue out at your picture 

"I went through the insane asylum'* . 

"I been havin practise in military drill" 

"I thought that was too fresh" 

"Im sendin the stamps" 

"I was readin her parts of your letter 

"Ma plum caflabagated" 

"My poetry is not as good as yours" 

"Roy gave me some perfume " . 

"Roy got us tickets" .... 

"Ive got a new dress, its pretty nifty 

"When I got your letter I broke down an 

"Broggins, he went mad an died" 

"I went an got some swell goods" 

"Your mothers wearin a flue mask" 

"We danced the chimmy" . 

"They was one Colonel there" 

"Cousin Lulas crazy about the victrola 

"I stopped an sniffed the air" . 

" 'Independent!' I say, 'Me too, Bill!* 



cried 



66 
69 

72 

75 

79 
82 

84 

86 

88 

90 

92 

94 
96 

99 
102 

105 

108 

III 

115 
118 



Dere Bill 

Dere Bill, 

I sure do miss you. Seems like you had been 
gone two months Instead of just two days. You 
said youd write soon, but I guess youre pretty 
busy. 

You hadnt more than got out of town till here 
come Nellie struttin up here. Now I aint got 
nothin against Nellie, BUI, but she sure Is hateful 
an jealous hearted when It comes to you. Shes 
been flyin round with that Guffy fello just for 
your and my benefit. She tries to act like shes 
crazy about him. When she come In she says "I 
reckon youre lonesome with your fine soldier gone 
to war." Then she says "Gufiy dont have to go 
to war. Hes workin his brains here for the gov- 
ernment, an doln more good than fightln." i\nd 
I just up and says a little hateful — but composed, 
*'BuddIn young citizen, eh?" An she flew off red 
an mad as whizz an says "I'd ruther have a bud- 
din young citizen at home than a bloomin idiot in 
the Army." Now she could a lived just as long 
without sayin that. I like Nellie but she sure 

I 



2 DERE BILL 

does say mean things. I hate a cattish girl. You 
know thats one thing I can say. I aint cattish or 
jealous hearted an never was. 

You said on your post card you had to send a 
whole bunch to a lot of other girls. Well, I 
better close as a bunch of fellos said they was 
comin about eight an its most seven-thirty, an 
I got to dress. 

As ever 
Mable 




NELLIE — Page 1 



Dere Bill, 

Ive just come in from taking a quart of milk 
over to Grovcr Sturgion's. He drinks It every 
day to get fat sos he can get Into the Army. Hes 
underwalt. The boys all call him Tuesday. Thats 
meatless day here. Some of them told him If hed 
train up a little hed get into the carrier pigeon 
service. Pa said he was going down the street 
the other day an saw Judge Perdue coming. He 
said he got to wondering why he was carrying a 
walkin cane and when he got close he found he 
wasnt carryin a walking can at all, he was just 
walkin along with Grover. Its pitiful how thin 
he Is. 

Ive been gettin along pretty good In the dic- 
shunary. Ive learned a lot of good ones under 
the As. That reminds me I ought to abbreviate 
this letter sos to alleviate you from being bored. 
I admonish you Bill, if you dont write soon we 
wont be affiliating like we always have an you 
will be abased In my opinion. That would make 
us adversaries which would make an acute pain 
In my heart. Thats not a cute Bill, its all one 
word an means a keen pain. Once Im peeved Im 
adamantine. That means hard. You get that 

5 




"IVE JUST COME FROM GROVER STURGION's" — Page 5 



DERE BILL 7 

way slecpin In iron beds and eatin rock candy. It 
gives you a stare that makes a fello feel like his 
shirt tails out when you look at him. It would 
be hard for you to adapt to that, gentle as Ive 
always been with you, so I repeat, you better write 
oftener. 

I expect to hear youve been aggrandized soon 
over the whole aggregated army. Youd soon have 
the captain aggitatcd afraid hed lose out If youd 
just apply yourself. 

Yours adherently 

Mahle 




"its pitiful how thin he is" — Page 5 



Dere Bill, 

Can you believe It — Nellie's gone an married 
Guffy, an they moved Into the house next to ours. 
You cant tell me she loves him though. If she 
wasnt still jealous over you shed make up. Id 
meet her half way altho I aint goin to speak first. 
Shes spiteful as ever. She had to ask Maggie 
Sams to be her maid of honor because we aint 
speakin, an if she hadnt been awful mad shed 
a gone on an asked me anyhow cause anybody 
knows Im better lookin than Maggie. That aint 
conceit, Bill, I dont like conceit but you know its 
the truth. Anybody thats looked In the glass much 
as I have would. I may not be so pretty but — 
Im darned stylish. 

The day after Nellie an Guffy moved In over 
there Pa had had sum beer sent up and they put 
it on their poarch by mistaik an she called up an 
says "Please send and get this barrell. Im afraid 
somebody will think its mine." That evenin Guffy 
was settin on their poarch readin and after while 
he moved over on our side In the shade. I called 
up Nellie an says "Please come and get this man 
offen my poarch — Im afraid somebody will think 
hes mine." I reckon you aint the only one what 

II 




"NELLIE'S GONE AN MARRIED GUFFY" — Page II 



DERE BILL 13 

thinks of things to say, ch Bill? Your good at It 
though. 

I sec you spelt a word wrong. I know it was 
just careless. Don't believe a minute I thought 
you never knew no better. It aint c-i-e-n-t-I-f-i-c-k. 
Its s-i-g-h-e-n-t-i-p-h-I-c. You pronounce the p-h 
like a f an that makes It come out even. 

Yours with love 

Mahle 

P.S. — I kno It aint for girls to speak of love 
first but there aint but one chance in ten that you 
wont get shot and never come back so we might 
as well be frank. 




'anybody THATS looked in the glass much as I HAVE 

WOULD" — Page ii 



Dere Bill, 

There aint much new or nothin to write about. 
Theyve got Guffy in jail for slackin. Nellie most 
went crazy. I was sorry for her so I went over 
to see what was goin on. Trouble had softened 
her considerable an she fell on my shoulder a 
cryin. My hearts big Bill, so I was kind and 
tried to comfort her. It seems Guffy never did 
want to go much. First he had that government 
job, then he found he wasnt high enough up to 
be exempted so he got married an claimed he had 
to support Nellie. That didnt work cause Nellie 
always has supported herself at the silk mill and 
they said she could do it again if need be, so Guffy 
tried to buy a farm, hearin farmers wouldnt have 
to go. Before he got the deal closed, they drawed 
his number an he went to be examined at the 
exemption board. They ought to a took the 
board to him then an sent him flyin, but he claimed 
somethin was wrong with his feet. If theyd ever 
a seen him dance I reckon theyd have believed 
him. You know how he always drags one foot. 
Most of the girls couldnt dance with him but 
I got on to it and whenever bed drag that game 
foot, Id drag one of mine. I ought to be on to it. 

15 



llliill 


IHiill 



iCELLia I 




MJ 



'theyve got guffy in jail for slacks''— Page 15 



DERE BILL 17 

Member that night we was mad an I got stuck 
with him? Nellie said the next night after that 
dance they was out ridin an had a puncture. They 
didnt have no tire nor pump nor patches nor 
nothin, an she says Guffy got out and took a look 
an says "Well, looks like we was stuck as bad 
as Mable Gimp an me was at the dance last night." 
But I told Nellie it was nothin like that cause if 
it had a been she an Guffy would be settin out 
there in that flivver yet. She told him too, cause 
he was awful cool for a day or two. Theyve 
got him in a cooler where hell keep cool now I 
reckon, till the Boshes begin to make it hot for 
him. 

All the girls are gettin little crossed guns to 
pin in their shirt waists an some of em are carryin 
little canes their soldier lover sent em. I hear 
they dont cost but a dollar an a half. I say thats 
cheap for the pleasure a girl gets out of things 
like that. 

Yours 
Mable 




"she fell on my shoulder a cryin" — Page 15 



My devest Bill, 

I been feelln as royal as bakin powder for the 
last few days. My Cousin, Jed Bangs was over 
here In his flivver from Elmore County. Thats 
why I aint had time to write. We have done 
nothin but drive from mornin till night and mostly 
from night till mornin. Jed says Its never late 
till twelve and Its always early after that. Jeds 
just like Uncle Mat, his father and Mas brother. 
Always Phyloslphying about something or other 
an hes got all kinds of sence, non and otherwise. 

Last night was his last night. We sure did 
celebrate. Some girl from up on the avenue 
passed with a fine car all glassed In and her fello 
settin In a seat all swung round facin hers so 
Jed always thinkin of somethin nobody else would, 
went In an got a chair out of the kitchen an put it 
in with me facin him an we rode like that around 
an passed the swell couple with the glassed in 
affair. Its great to have some fello to run around 
with cause It dont give me much time to think 
about an miss you. I say a young girl oughtnt to 
brood over circumstances that cant be helped. If 
you get killed theres your Insurance me and your 

21 



fV. 




"my cousin, JED BANGS" — Page 21 



DERE BILL 23 

Mother can divide an that ought to keep me from 
havin to work for awhile. Gee ! Wouldnt a real 
vacation be great. I can just tell you if I had 
half of the amount of your insurance, I wouldnt 
be hangin round here making cornbread. Id eat 
in the Cafe-fays. 

I see youve mispelt another word. Dont let the 
Army make you careless Bill. Nothin speaks 
worse for a fello than bum writin. Id correct 
you but there aint time to look it up. Ive got 
to cook supper. Dont get jealous about Jed. 
Remember hes a cousin, though from the way he 
acted I think he wishes he wasnt. He said Id 
make the best little wife on the market. Dont 
get up in the air though. You wouldnt want a 
wife nobody else would have. Dont worry about 
the way he always drove with his arm on the back 
of the seat, cause Im still 

Your same 

Mable 



Bll 




"HE DROVE WITH HIS ARM ON THE BACK OF THE SEXr'— Page 23 
B12 



Dere Billy 

Its rainin cats an I cant get out to go down 
town so Im goin to write you a long letter. I 
dont know what it can be about though. The 
town sure ought to have crepe hung out on it. Its 
dead an beginnin to rot. They say a strange fello 
was in town ridin around and passed the Kemical 
plant and said "Peew! The town is dead, no 
joke." I dont see why a stranger wouldnt won- 
der what was wrong. The oders awful! Just 
like a field of rotten cabbage. They claim Its a 
good thing for the town because It kills germs. 
I reckon it does if theyre at all delicate. It would 
kill anything. I bet If they could catch some of 
it in a bottle an turn it loose over there where 
the Kaiser Is the war wouldnt last long. 

That season ticket you bought me to the Happy- 
hour Is punched out. I wish it had lasted two 
more punches cause that would a finished Pearl 
White in "The House of Hate." I bet that whis- 
kered man is the hooded Terror cause he looks 
German. Its a cereul picture, comes every Satur- 
day an the hooded Terror kills people an you dont 
know who he is. Every Saturday night they most 
get him an make you think hes goin to take the 

27 




"l BET THAT WHISKERED MAN IS THE HOODED TERROR" — Page 27 



DERE BILL 29 

hood off then the picture quits an they keep you 
fooled a whole week while theyre thinkin up some 
way to make you keep comin on every Saturday. 
Everybody knows for sure the whiskered mans 
it but they cant be certain till they know there 
aint no doubt. If whiskers is the German style 
when you Sammies get to mopin up over there I 
guess theyll be the style in hell too. Im bettin on 
you Sammies, Bill. 

They say if clothes keep on costin more all 
the girls will have to go to wearin shredded wheat 
costumes likes in the pictures in the adds. That 
would be immodest enough but what would we all 
do on wheatless days? I dont mean that to sound 
fresh. Remarks like that made to sound fresh 
dont become a young girl — but honest you fellos 
dont know what a problem dressin is gettin to be. 

You ought to see the new fello in Pa's office. 
Looks like he was raised on postum. Hes had a 
course in business trainin. It dont seem to have 
taught him much except how to go around lookin 
like he was expectin a letter. Hes around the 
house on business a good deal and tries to shine 
up to me but dont worry or think Id fall for him 
just because he wears better clothes than you. I 
like a man what knows how to win a girl without 
always sayin sweet things to her. He told me 
the other day not to go out in the rain or Id melt 



N 




"the new fello in pa's office" — Page 2Q 



DERE BILL 31 

— sugar always did. Thats the way he is, gifted 
in sayin sweet things but I dont trust fellos like 
that. They say the same things to all girls. 

You for mine 

Mable 




"hes around the house on business a good deal"— Pa^^ 2g 



Dere Old Billy, 

I have just arose from my seesta. It aint 
nothin you see, Bill. Its a sleep you take in the 
afternoon. 

Ive gone to practising my voice three hours a 
day instead of two. The new man in Pa's office 
came down last night an says "Miss Mable, I 
heard you singin all the way down the street an 
the further off I was the better it sounded." That 
was a compliment too, cause if my voice carries 
like that — theres prospects for grand opera. 

That new picture of you sure is great. I didnt 
even recognize it for a long time. I showd it to 
my music teacher and he said "Why, really, you 
wouldnt know him. Its a very nice lookin pic- 
ture." You ought to feel proud that you could 
get a picture to look like that — that nobody even 
dreams is you till theyre told because that means 
its a good picture. 

There ! I went an told it ! My music teacher 
is a he. Dont get jealous though Bill. If you 
could see him ! Hes got hair like a girls and false 
teeth that fall out when he gets mad an I sing on 
the wrong key. They fall out every two seconds 
seems to me like. Quick as whizz though he cliks 

35 




"IVE GONE TO PRACTISING MY VOICE THREE HOURS A DAY" — Page 25 



DERE BILL 37 

em back in. Once he was showln me how to sing 
a note an the top ones fell out an most choked 
him. ... I had to laff. That made him so mad 
he just put em on top of the piano an went on 
singin like he had hot mush in his mouth. Little 
Sue got a whippin because she was hidin under 
the sopha watchin him an got so scared she rolled 
out. 

Hes a good teacher tho. He used to brag 
about bein a German musician an get paid big for 
lessons, but hes sorter quit that now an you can pay 
him what you want to. 

The new fello in Pa's office is mad at me sorter. 
He said he wished he could go to war because 
they needed more hard boiled eggs. I told him 
that he better stay here cause they had enough 
of the kind that wouldnt cook. You know what 
kind wont cook, dont you Bill? Thats the kind 
of an egg he is. Hes fresh too, in a way. The 
other day he went to help me on the street car 
an my dress was tight an the step was high. He 
says "Miss Mable, the more I see of you, the 
better I like you." I pretended not to catch on 
cause you could take it too ways. Low down Bill, 
thats him all over, as you sometimes say. His 
brain runs like a sewer pipe. I like Genteel con- 
versation wath my boy friends. 

From one who is all for you 

Mable 





"hes got hair like a girls an false teeth"— Pfl^^ S5 



Dere Bill, 

Your letter made me effervescent with joy to 
know you had been made a corporal. Thats next 
to captain, aint It? YouU be a Admiral yet Bill. 
Dont never think It dont pay to work for per- 
motion. The Word says, "Virtue shall have re- 
ward", an dont never get blue an think It wont. 
How does It feel to have all the rookies salutin? 

I got that word up there out of Grandmas dlc- 
shunary an It means to bubble up or over. If 
you should want to look It up it comes under the 
E's. I dont reckon youd have to though. Its sure 
expressive. I was that glad to know you was an 
officer I knew if I wasnt effervescent (or bubblln 
over) Id bust. 

So your learnin French talk? Nellie was in to- 
day an I says you was talkin It like a native. She 
says, "Native of where? Calamazoo?" Im doln 
a little studyin myself. I thought Id study up on 
some of these long english words of four slllables. 
Its been so long since I was in school — not that 
I consider myself old Bill because Im not but 
five years older than you, an you was In the draft 
age or Nellie says you wouldnt be where you are 
now but dont worry, I kno better. Im studyin sos 

41 




", GOT THAT WOH. OUT OF GRANDMAS DICSHUNARY"-P«<7. *• 



DERE BILL 43 

111 understand the tecknickle part of your letters 
better as you rise in the Army. 

Ma dropped the iron board on her foot yes- 
terday so I got extra work. 

By-By 
Mahle 



N 




'''Mm 




"ma dropped the iron board on her foot" — Page 43 



Dere Billy 

Father has had a liver attack and ma's foots 
still swelled — so Im too busy to write long. 

Im sorry your feet are givin you so much 
trouble. Your mother was In yesterday and we 
studied what we could do. Rite after she left I 
picked up a paper and saw a add. It said "Have 
you a lover In the Army? Send him sum of our 
footease an keep him comfortable." So I showd 
It to your mother an were goln together an send 
you sum. 

Nellie an me aint speakln. I like Nellie, Bill, 
but shes so hateful over you. I was explainin , 
to her yesterday about that Camooflage an how 
you soldiers use It to make folks think youre what 
you aint. She says "I reckon thats what BUI 
uses to make em think hes a soldier." Im tired 
hearin her mirate. Everybody knows shed a had 
you if she could a got you away from me, but I 
know a good thing when I see It— eh. Bill? An 
I was rite on my job. 

Aunt MIra was in from the country last nite, 
to spend the nite. Shes always gettin somethin 
wrong an takin us by surprise. This time It was 
a church bug had died in one of the notes in her 

47 




"your mother was in yesterday"— Pa^^ 4^7 



DERE BILL 49 

accordian, an she couldnt play "The Happy 
Land", an had to have It fixed. She says Jeds a 
Lieut. I guess he gets his bravery from Uncle 
Mat — ma's brother, an his father. When Uncle 
Mat was young it used to be said he was so brave 
hed tackle hell with one bucket of water. 

Here I set tellin you sweet things an the corn 
bread for fathers diet burnin in the stove. I 
dont see no need for him a diet. He eats It first, 
then he eats the rest of the dinner. If ma dont 
shut up they will be another movin picture on 
"Why young girls leave home." 

Your girl 
Mahle 




"l PICKED UP A PAPER AN SAW A ADD" — Pape 4-7 



Bill dere, 

I been to Red Cross Working today. Speakin 
of something tecknickle ! Theyre awful down 
there. When I got there they said please to wash 
my hands before I fooled with the bandages. 
They called It serglcal dressings but I hoped the 
doctors would put on more than that when they 
operated, but they dont dress themselves In them, 
they put em on the fello that the Hun has cut up. 
I knowd my hands was clean cause It being Mon- 
day Id been washin all morning but I washed em 
an didnt argue or explain. Then they told me to 
go over In the corner an stretch. I went over 
an started stretchin my arms an they all com- 
menced to laff. I dIdnt know what at. I thought 
the stretchin was a good Idea cause you had to 
set still so long foldin the rags. But It wasnt 
myself that I was supposed to stretch. It was 
the cloth to make the things to dress you fellos in 
when the Germans leave you on the battle field 
bleedin to death. Why dIdnt they tell me to 
stretch the cloth? How Is anybody goln to tell? 
Thats the way It went with everything — nothin 
made plain. They say the Red Cross is a sign 
of mercy. They showed me mighty little. DIdnt 

53 




"id been washin all morning" — Page S3 



DERE BILL 55 

explain nothin — then laffed when Id done some- 
thin wrong. All the women talk about is babies 
an Hoover cornbread. Mrs. Joe Backner was 
braggin about how hers never cried. If I hadnt 
been no more human than she was Id have told 
her it was because she never stayed at home to 
hear it. They live too doors from us. The kid 
will never have to go West for consumpshun as 
long as it keeps up Its lung practice. 

I went in the parlor last night an played "A 
Maidens Prayer." It made me awful blue. That 
was always your favorite song. 

Thanks for the swagger stick. Hope you didnt 
take my runnin on for a hint. Maggie Sams got 
one of those cross gun pins today an Im knittin 
on some sox for you. 

Yours till Niagara falls 

Mable 




"they told me to go over an stretch" — Page 53 



B13 



Dere Bill 

I know its been a week since I wrote but Ive 
been knittin me a rainbow sweater. All the 
girls up on the avenue are makin em an their 
awful loud. Theres are. Mines made out of the 
scraps from your things tho with just a little touch 
of red and yellow your mother gave me. Most 
of em look like that coat you read about that 
Moses had on Joseph In the bull rushes. I made 
mine in three days but its too hot to wear it. 
The avenue girls wear theres just the same. 
Their pride keeps them cool I reckon, but you 
know me Bill,' I aint proud. I never would a 
promised to marry you If I had a been, but I 
never care what people say long as I know a 
good thing when I see It. An not many fellos 
have your looks or money either, or are as close 
about keepin It. Thats a unusual trait I love in 
you Bill. Your perservatlve.' 

Im doln all the cookin. Aunt Mira died and 
ma went to the funeral. Looks like ma gets to 
go everywhere. They dont know what was the 
matter with her, just took a dose of Dr. Lufords 
medicine an died. Dr. Lufords the best doctor 

59 




"IVE BEEN KNITTIN ME A RAINBOW SWEATER" — Page 59 



DERE BILL 61 

in town now. If you ever get sick 111 send for 
him. Kill or cure — thats his motto. 

Cookins hard now cause pa's diet calls for soup 
an they wont let us have it now cause Nellie's 
sick next door an they want everything kept quiet. 
Pa eats soup awful loud. At dinner I was that 
wore out I set down on the woodbox an cried. 
A tack didnt give me much time to meditate 
though. Blessed is he that set on a tack, I reckon, 
for he shall rise again. 

Maggie Sams thinks shes so smart just be- 
cause she took a year of High School. She was 
askin me the other day why I didnt learn to pro- 
nounce the Kaiser's name an I told her it would 
take anybody with a powerful bad cold to sneeze 
them names out an besides when You got over 
there his name would be mud an anybody could 
pronounce that. Thats right too, eh Bill? 

Must close on this line. 

As ever 
Mable 



N 




'iM DoiN ALL THE cookin" — Page S9 



Dere Billy 

You ought to sec what Pa's office boy brought 
up to-night. Honestly hcs the cutest thing. Roy 
says hes the best friend hes got In the world an 
Ive got to be good to him. I thought we could 
keep him right here at the house but Pa says 
he would eat too much, so Roy says hell bring 
him up every night. Hes going to stay with 
some other friends Roy has in town. His names 
Broggins. Don't you think that is a cute name? 
You would if youd see him cause It just suits him. 
Its going to be nice to have him around a good 
deal for then 111 have something else to think 
about an wont miss you so much. Last night he 
sat in my lap an stuck his tongue out at your pic- 
ture. I didnt have the heart to slap him he looked 
so cute. Hes crazy about the victrola. I have 
to play it to him all the time to keep him quiet. 

Dont get jealous because Im not the least bit 
crazy about Roy. The only reason he comes 
around so much is that he has business with Pa 
an he lets me have Broggins while he talks to 
him. You know me Bill, Hospitable, thats me 
all over. You ought to know Bill for whether 
you come when in the shades of evenin or with 

65 




'he stuck his tongue out at your picture"— Pfl^^ 65 



DERE BILL 67 

the lights of mornin it was always the same wel- 
come you got. An Brogglns is such a dear. Here 
he comes with Roy now. When he first gets in 
the house he always jumps around like hes so 
glad to see me. 

I went through the Insane asylum yesterday. 
There sure are some nuts there too. One old 
woman thinks shes Queen Victoria. Another one 
thinks shes an umbrella and never goes out ex- 
cept when it rains. The rest of the time she 
stands behind the door. Another one was run- 
nln around sorter wild an I asked her who she 
was. She said she was a poached egg huntin a 
piece of toast to sit on. Oh there awful. 

Guffys out of jail an some how he got out of 
his charges. The judge didnt know him like I do 
I reckon. 

Write soon. Goodby for this time. 

Mable 



lN5/\Nt A5YLUf1 




"l WENT THROUGH THE INSANE ASYLUM" — Page 67 



Dere Bill, 

I been havin a little practise In military drill 
myself down at the Y. W. C. A. No wonder 
you get balled up. If theyd leave off some of 
the fancy switchin thats to show off your uni- 
form, I guess, an go right after the Germans 
theyd save a lot of time an win the war quicker. 
I dont see no real fightin to it Bill. 

First they lines us up an told us to count off, 
It was a good lookin officer tralnin us an thats 
the reason all the girls went except me. You 
know me Bill. Im signed up for the season an 
when I see a better lookin man than you I dont 
run after him. Im as true as blue Bill. I just 
went to see what it was like. Nellie was there 
scrambling around like an egg trying to get on 
the front row. She knocked me right out of line. 
It was disgustin. She always did run after the 
boys. You ought to know. Bill. 

Where was I? Oh yes, they told us to *'Count 
off" and nobody did anything, not knowing what 
to do. Then he explained that there was two 
commands, a preparation command and an ex- 
ecushlon command. Then he says "Right dress" 
an nobody did nothin again so he started ex- 

71 



M.S. 




"l BEEN HAVIN PRACTISE IN MILITARY DRILL" — Page ?! 



DERE BILL 73 

plalilln. He said that on the preparation com- 
mand "Right" you turned your eyes an head to 
the right an I noticed he always managed to be up 
along to the right somewhere. Nellie was on 
the end an I bet it nearly killed her when he 
told her the end man kept his eyes straight to 
the front. She started pushing me an asking me 
to swop places with her an I would have if she 
hadnt been so anxious. Then the officer said 
the command of execushion was "Dress" and to 
take up your dress and hold it. I thought that 
was too fresh so I left. He could say that to 
men but military drill wasnt maped out for 
ladies. I leave my part to you Bill. 

When the war ends 

Mahle 




"l THOUGHT THAT WAS TOO FRESH" — Page ^S 



Dere Bill, 

Too bad you been havin to scrub the pots an 
pans. Pa says he wishes hed had some experi- 
ence along that line when he was young an maybe 
it wouldnt have been so hard for him when he 
was first married. Theres a practical way to 
look at everything they say if you try to find it. 
Ive been trying to figure out why everybodys 
buying so many thrift stamps an liberty bonds if 
they aint goin to take the money an hire the work 
done SOS you boys can spend more time learnin 
to fight. 

Im scndin the stamps. I wondered why you 
hadnt been writin often. Dont be too modest 
about asking me for things Bill I just want to 
ask one thing of you. Dont use the stamps on 
anybody but me, unless its your mother. I dont 
write to no other fellos since we got engaged. Of 
course you didnt come right out an say "Lets be 
engaged" but I knew you was embarassed that 
night an that was what you meant so I sent back 
Jim Bailys Bible class pin Id been wearin an 
burned up the two letters he wrote me when he 
was down on the mexican border for four months 
one summer. He would have wrote more often if 

77 



78 DERE BILL 

he hadnt had the liberty measles for a week. Now 
bein in the army I dont care if you write to some 
other girls trustin you as I do. Some girls wouldnt 
stand for it Bill, but Im broadminded. All I ask 
is let them send their own stamps. Its only right. 

We passed Nellie and Guffys house last night 
comin from the Church an Pa said Guffy must 
have joined the home guard cause they had a 
window up an its the first time for some time 
theyve been so afraid hed get caught in the draft. 
Pa's got a head like a tack Bill. Pity he didnt 
have more schooling. 

This mornin Roy an I made up a song an went 
out on the front poarch an sang it accidentally 
on purpose so they could hear it. It was, 

"Rather be a dog in a niggers back yard 
Than to be a member of the Home Guard." 

To the tune of the "Blues". Now they aint 
spcakin which is common. 

With love 
Mable 




"IM SENDIN THE STAMPS" — Page 77 



Dere Bill, 

I thought maybe when Nellie got married shed 
quit bein spiteful about you but she seems to be 
still jealous of me an cant help but show it. Weve 
made up cause she says she knows Roy made up 
the song. She neednt think I couldnt have done 
it if Id thought of it first, but I didnt tell her so. 
She was over this morning an I was readin her 
parts of your letter by way of lettln her keep 
up with the times an things of Interest an im- 
portance. I read about the inspecshun on Satur- 
days. She says she bet the tooth inspector had to 
put on smoked glasses to keep your gold teeth 
from puttin his eyes out. Then she says "What 
did Bill have them gold teeth put in for any- 
how? Because the lights on his Ford are so dim 
he thinks the reflecshun will help him keep in the 
road at night." She makes me sick. Everybody 
knows she adores your gold teeth an used to 
tell you they were ristocratic, which they are. 

Your poetry was alamageorgeous Bill an Ma 
plum caflabagated in a chair when she heard it 
an said it was awful, meanin the pictures it pre- 
sented to her mind. Its nice to have a fello who 
shows some new talent every day or two that you 

81 




"l WAS READIN HER PARTS OF YOUR LETTER" — Page 8l 



DERE BILL 83 

hadnt even suspected before. I was surprised 
enough when I found you had the makins of a 
officer an was a corperal, but a poetical officer Is 
great. 

Im writin some to you that 111 send next time. 
I tried to get It finished but Im not so smart as 
you I guess. Itll give you somethin to look for- 
ward to. 

Yours till you get It 

Mable 




"MA PLUM 



CAFLABAGATED"— Pfl^^ 8^ 



Dere Bill, 

Heres my poetry. Its not as good as yours 
but it rhymes enough for you to get the main 
Idea. 

MY HERO 



When I think about the guns, 
Smashin up the german Huns, 
It makes the shivers creep 
But my heart begins to leap. 

II 

I hear the drums wild beat, 
To the tread of marchin feet, 
And I figure through it all 
Who answered Uncle Sammys call. 

Ill 

He is now engaged In strife 
That may mean his mortal life. 
On his baynut are two Boshes 
Uttering dreadful cries an Goshes. 
85 




*MY POETRY IS NOT AS GOOD AS YOXJRS"—Paffe 85 



DERE BILL 87 



IV 



Theres an awful din an prattle, 
Through the ragin of the battle, 
Though theres mud an rain an slop 
He leads the boys over the top. 



Into no mans land they go 
And as they face the awful foe 
Hes the one that has the punch 
An the bravest of the bunch. 

VI 

An now Bill when you come home 
Dont be swelled around the dome 
Or in love with some French girl 
Because she has a little curl. 

VII 

But remember that Im waitin 
An also anticipatin 
That for me therell be concern 
On the day when you return. 




"ROY GAVE ME SOME PERFUME" — Page 8q 



DERE BILL 89 

I hope youll like it, Bill. Dont show it to 
the other fellos for their girls might not be poeti- 
cal and it would make them feel bad because they 
couldnt get some too. Thats all in fun of course, 
Bill. 

Roy gav^e me some perfume the other day, but 
Im still gettin stronger and stronger for you. 

Mable 



B14 




"ROY GOT US tickets" — Pape 01 



Dere Bill, 

I may not get to write often next week for a 
Chantauque is comin to town an Roy got us 
tickets. He got them give to him complimentary 
for sellln them to the leadln Business men. A 
Chantauque alnt a kind of automobile, BUI, though 
one of the big bugs Roy went to sell tickets to 
seemed to think so. Roy asked him If he was 
goln to support the Chantauque an he said hed 
done bought a Cadalack. I dont know exactly 
what It Is myself, but It must be some kind of 
show If you have to have tickets for It. I know 
It alnt an automobile anyhow. Wasnt that rich? 

Ive got a new dress. Its pretty nifty but I guess 
you alnt Interested In womans clothes. Too busy 
dopln out that plan to stop the war, eh BUI? 
Hows It comln? I guess If you really did get 
It down wed have more green blinds In that house 
than weve planned for. I wouldnt marry a man 
for money, BUI. Im not mercenary or worldly, 
but It makes It mighty nice for a girl when a fello 
shes picked out happens to have some. 

I sent my pome to the home newspaper. They 
sent It back. Couldnt appreciate it. They said 
the dedication wasnt appropriate. It was dedl- 

91 




"IVE GOT A NEW DRESS, ITS PRETTY NIFTY" — Page gi 



DERE BILL 93 

cated to you. I reckon maybe the dedlcashun has 
to be to somebody dead but I didnt know that be- 
fore. Maybe you would be before It got printed 
though, the way they usually do things In the 
newspapers around here. The news Is always 
stale when we get it. Maybe you noticed it 
though. 

Brogglns has got so he goes everywhere with 
me. All the girls are wild about him. Wish 
you could see him. 

Till you come home 

Mahle Gimp 




'when I GOT YOUR LETTER I BROKE DOWN AN CRIED"— Pa^<? p5 



Dere Bill, 

When I got your letter I broke down an cried. 
I know you dont like demonstrashuns of grief. 
Knowin that I dont think I would have lost con- 
trol of myself except that I was in the kitchin 
helpin Ma peel onions an they had my emotions 
up already when the postman came with your 
letter. 

The idea of you not knowin Broggins was a 
dog! There hasnt another man looked at me 
since you left an I wouldnt a paid no attenshun 
to them if they had, knowin how twould make 
you feel. And to think this had to happen over 
a dog when Ive been so careful about other fel- 
los. Looks like even if I forgot to mention Brog- 
gins was a dog youd have faith enough in me to 
know it was some kind of animal. 

I know you didnt hear from no other girls 
about it cause I remember tellin you those things 
myself thinkin you would know it was a dog. 
I never knew you to lie to me before Bill, but 

95 







s 







^ 



' ^^t / \ 



WkU /^ "^ 'i^^ )'*!// 



"broggins, he went mad an died" — Page 98 



DERE BILL 97 

I wont hold It against you as I know you must 
a been desperate thinkin some fello was comin 
up every nite an stickin his tongue out at your 
picture. I guess you most went crazy. Too bad 
you didnt ask me before so you could have been 
gettin more sleep nights. It must have been awful 
to work hard all day an then be too bothered to 
sleep at nights. Its no use sayin how sorry I am 
BUI, words couldnt express it, an you away from 
home for the first time too. 

Im sendin back your things an a choclat cake. 
I didnt tell Ma an Pa. Theyve had their hopes 
up so high since you been stickin around so much 
that after all I was goln to get off, that I knew it 
would be such a disappointment Pa would get a 
attack an Ma hasnt been well anyhow, an Pa has 
been nervous all along for fear somethin would 
happen to knock it in the head. Say, what would 
Nellie done if wed busted up? Shes been tryin 
long enough. 

Now Bill, be careful hereafter what kind of 
notions you get in your head. It sure would be 
low down for you to go back on me an I hope 
you realize Im bindin you to your promise. It 
aint like I had another chance I might a had once, 
but I gave up Jim Bally for you an If youre any 
ways a gentleman youll make it worth while. 

I know youre a gentleman though Bill an Im 



98 DERE BILL 

not layin this on you. It was my fault but here- 
after you can know Im 

Yours till the sun sets forever 

MMe 

P.S. — Dont worry about BrOggins nohow. I 
forgot to say he went mad yesterday an died of 
Hydrefobia. Every dog has his day. 

Mahle 




"l WENT AN GOT SOME SWELL GOODS" — Page lOI 



Dere Bill, 

Your all the time writin me askin me what I 
think you done now? Well, Im writin you askin 
you what you think I done now? The way I 
happened to think of it was this. Since so many 
of the fellos joined the home guard an got uni- 
forms, the girls have got so flirty I cant afford 
to go with them like I used to. Why, Maggie 
Sams has most got to be the kind that frizzes 
her hair out on the side like baked potatoes an 
looks in the barber shop an reads Bevo signs. 
So of course I had to quit goin with her an the 
rest is just as bad. The way Nellie does for a 
married woman is scandalous. So not bein able 
to go with them any more I get more time to think 
of things concernin you an me after the war. So 
what you think I done now? Ive started a w^ar 
chest! I aint goin to call it a hope chest cause 
Nellie would be sure to say I ought to call it a 
hopeless chest, never missin the chance to say 
something hateful. I reckon if youve got seven 
dollars ($7) saved up toward them green shut- 
ters for our white house, I orter begin to think 
about some curtins to go behind them, so I went 
down town the other day an got some swell goods 

10 1 



N5. 




'YOUR MOTHERS WEARIN A FLUE MASK"— Pfl^^ lOS 



DERE BILL 103 

to make them out of, payin twenty-five cents (25c) 
a yard for it. Its got yellow cupids on it, holdin 
lavender flowers in there hands. Theres purple 
ribbon tied to their wings thats flyin an flutterin 
while theyre scatterin the flowers. They ought 
to brighten the dining room up some. Ive took 
flower sacks an hemmed us enough dish rags to 
last till old man Gabriel blows the last time. Im 
tryin to work the practical in with the ornamen- 
tal. Maybe 111 get along faster on it next week, 
as pa's got a liver attack an ma's got the flue. 

I reckon youve heard about the epidemick. 
Somebody sneezes without their handkerchief up 
an it spreads. Thats what Dr. Luford says. He 
says the only good thing about it is that when a 
patient dies theres plenty more gettin sick. The 
doctors is the only ones that dont have to worry. 
Your mothers been wearin a flue mask sos she 
wont get it, an it improves her looks mightily. 

I got a date tonight — reckon I dont have to 
tell you its with Roy. Were goin to prayer meetin. 
He always asks me for a date prayer meetin night, 
cause he knows pa says I got to go an it wont 
cost him nothin. I sure do miss you. Bill. I aint 
seen the inside of a picture show since my ticket 
to the Happyhour punched out. The man that 
preaches tonight has got a B. V. D. or somethin 
tacked on to the hind part of his name. I guess 



104 DERE BILL 

he didnt study out of one of them little Bibles 
like your mother give you to carry in your pocket 
when you went to war. I bet he knows the big 
one plum through. 

I got them white carnations you sent me for 
Thanksglvin, but there must a been some mistake. 
The card says "Rest in Peace." I guess the florist 
got things mixed with the epidemick. 

Hoping you are the same, 

Mable 

P.S. — -Ma says keep your feet dry. Anybody 
can get it. 




"we danced the chimmy" — Page 107 



Dere Bill, 

Maggie had a party for the home guard last 
night. I thought at first I wouldnt go, the way 
they had been actin so foolish an freakish, but 
knowin theys so few attractive girls around here 
now I thought Id go an help her out. We danced 
a new dance they call the chlmmy. The fello 
that invented it must a had shell shock or some- 
thin. You never would learn to do it. Its too 
complicated. Remember what a hard time you 
had learnin to dance plain? There was one fello 
there danced awful. He pumped with his arm 
like he was tryin to get his engine started. Finally 
when Id been stuck with him two or three dances 
I says, "Well now were cranked up — lets dance 
awhile." They was one Colonel there. He 
started rushin me heavy at first but I saw that 
little gold chicken on his shoulder an thought he 
was a cook. He rushed Nellie but I could a had 
him if Id known what he was. Who wants a 
Colonel with a fello like you, Bill? Not me. 

Us girls has decided we dont know much about 
the service, so weve got a little bunch that meets 
together every other night. We call it "Gettin in 
touch with the service." We have gay old times 

107 




"they was one colonel there" — ?age 107 



DERE BILL 109 

an I mean we have fun livln up to the name. I 
learned at It tonight that the thing on the Colo- 
nels shoulder aint a chicken — Its a eagle. It sure 
looked like a chicken to me. 

I got a new hat. Its good lookln, too. Nellie 
sure has got brass. I brought It home an called 
her over to see It, an after she looked at It awhile 
she said ''Its awful cute. I bellev^e I can copy 
It for a every day knock about hat." Knock 
about hat nothin! She never had a Sunday hat 
as good lookln as that hat Is. 

Its been awful cold lately. The rain barrels 
froze. If you an me ever get rich after the war 
I aint never goln to see another bit of frost ex- 
cept on post cards. They say Santa aint comin 
down chimneys this year. Scared hell catch the 
flue. 

Yours till we winter in Florida 

Mable 




'cousin lulas crazy about the victrola" — Page 114. 



Dere Bill, 

I been thinking of you lately, an how you love 
to eat. We got a new kind of greens. Some- 
body sent them to pa from the mountains down 
south. Theyre galax. The leaves is larger than 
spinich. Were tryin some for dinner, cooked 
with good old country bacon. Im sittin in the 
kitchen writin an watchin them so they wont 
scortch. 

Our meetin, "Gettin in touch with the service" 
gets more interestin an more fun every time. I 
thought it would be borin at first but it aint. Ive 
worked on my war chest all day. Ive embroidered 
some pillo shams with "Good night" an "Good 
Morning", like your mothers. Shes goin to give 
us her framed motto "God bless our home". 
Looks like well have the furniture long before we 
get the house. 

Cousin Lula has been in from the country 
with little Mable, named after me. They say 
shes three years old, but she must be older than 
that, for she couldnt have gotten as dirty as she 
Is in three years. I never saw such a young un. 
Shes somethin like her pa. Went to Washington 
to the inauguration once an took a clean shirt an 

113 



114 DERE BILL 

a five dollar bill. Stayed three weeks an never 
changed either one of them. 

Cousin Lulas crazy about the victrola. She 
never heard one before. The other day we was 
all on the front poarch fer a little while an pa 
started it up an cousin Lula propped the screen 
door open sos she could hear better. 

I must go and get busy "Gettin in touch with 
the service.'* 

Yours till I know more about it 

MahU 




"l STOPPED AN SNIFFED THE AIR" — Page IIQ 



Dere Bill, 

Howll we ever get along when were married, 
with you ahvays takin things the wrong way an 
never understandin anything? "Keepin in touch 
with the service" is a book we read at Maggie 
Sams house, on mihtary instrucshuns an for you to 
think we was having the home guard fellos up 
an showin them a good time an callin it gettin in 
touch with the service, was an insult. I may 
have let you hold my hand in the canal at Wee 
Willow Park on a Saturday night but after the 
way I slapped you on the face the night you tried 
to put your arm around me in the hammock that 
Sunday night, I thought you knew I was no cooin 
dove. You ought to know if I was goin to let 
anybody it would be you. I aint even said any- 
thing cute to any of the home guard but once an 
that was to the Colonel at Maggie Sams party. 
He didnt have sense enough to appreciate it. 
Wed been stuck about two hours an after while 
by way of makin conversashun he got inquisitive 
an says, "Miss Mable, whos the man of the 
hour?" An I says, "You seem to be at present." 
He never even took the hint. Thats the way I 
do. Bill, always handin em lemons. There oughtnt 

117 



KMMMttonMMHHMiB 




"'independent!'" I SAY, "'ME TOO, BILL V—Pa^e no 



DERE BILL 119 

to be nothln between us now to keep us from bein 
like other engaged people. I guess youve always 
worried a little about Roy. You neednt no more. 
Hes too cheap a skate for me to notice. The other 
night we passed the candy kitchen an the candy 
was cookin and smelled awful good. I stopped 
an sniffed the air an says, ''Dont that candy smell 
good!" An he says, "Yes, lets stop an smell it 
awhile." I wasnt goin with him for what I could 
get out of him, but I thought it was time to quit. 
Now, Bill, theres no sense in your takin every- 
thing wrong. I thought when Broggins died all 
trouble was over among us, an I been careful to 
explain everything since but you had to go an get 
somethin else in your head wrong. I aint sayin 
it aint my fault for not explainin better but here- 
after you can ask to have it made plain before 
you accuse me of anything. You once says, "In- 
dependent! Thats me all over, Mable." Well, 
I say, "Me too. Bill !" An mean it. I dont mean 
to bust up, but use your common sense an you 
wont find the welcom wore off the door mat when 
you come home. 

I aint no saw dust doll but just your 

Mable 



weste:^! union 




THEO. N. VAIU PRtSIDKP<T 



Rpivate Bill Smith, 
U« S# Army 

Dere Bill, 

r.'aint heard from you for some- 
time, perhaps they got a sensor now at 
your ""camp* Please try to get a sensor 
that you know. You ought to have seen 
a letter what Maggie Sams got from her 
best fellow Charlie Poote*. The sensor 
must have been a German or an old 
button hole maker. I dont know which 
was the worst cut up, Maggie or the 
letter. Tbu know what lovely things 
Charlie says. Perhaps he dont say em 
to men, though. After one sentence 
the sensor ?rrote Mush. The only 
reason he didnt cut the sentence out 
was SOS he could be funny. So please 
get a sensor you know and tell him 
there aint nothln in any of your 
letters worth readin anyhow. Pa has 
had a long streak of liver or I know 
hed send his best. There isnt enough 
of it now to make it worth sending. 
Tommy JoneB^ drew a beard an a must ash 
on yoiar fotograph. You got no idea 
how it changes you. Always remember 
I love you no matter what you look like. 



Mabl© 



^: 



<^ 



LB IM 19 



